King Con!

Redeeming an otherwise disappointing America's Cup match race performance, Ken Read and his Team Saucony (tactician Terry Hutchinson, bowman Jerry Kirby, mainsail trimmer Moose McClintock, trimmer Morgan Trubovich and pitman Andrew Scott), came from well behind early in the series to win the 2003 Congressional Cup. It was a big win for Read, and one that could go a long way towards reestablishing him as a match race force.

Ken was nice enough to share a few thoughts about his win with SA. For full results go to www.lbyc.org

Congratulations of the win. This is your first big match race victory. Is this the first step to ramping up your match race program after a disappointing America's Cup?

KR
This was a great win for our team and for me personally. It may quiet some nay sayers for a short while. We’ll see.

You were perhaps given up for dead after the 1-4 start to the regatta. Explain the turnaround.

KR
Just rusty. Didn’t have any training or practice time. In fact, the only sailing I have done over the last four months was at Key West Race Week. The rust eventually wore off in the nick of time.

Obviously everybody at this level is good, but did you have trouble with anyone in particular?

KR
Funny enough the only person we lost to twice was our eventual S and S training partner Paolo Cian. The first race in his words was “a gift”. We lead him back to the line and were simply over early. Unforced error. Second race we made one wrong move and he pounced. He is a good guy and I was very happy for him to make the semi’s.

Every regatta has One Big Moment. What was it for you at the Con Cup?

KR
Definitely our comeback win over Gavin in the second round robin. That win turned a pressure packed dual between 5 of us to make the last two spots in the semi’s, in to a bit more of a low key final three races. We could then work on several different things, looking ahead to James Spithill in the semi’s. We started to become more confident every race. It started to become fun again.

With sponsorship from Saucony, will you continue on the Swedish match Tour?

KR
We will have to see. My sailing and business priorities are with North Sails, several great customers with top flight big boat racing programs, and a new E 22 looking toward the worlds on Long Island Sound. We will see where the Swedish Match Tour fits in. I guess there is a bit more initiative now with a win under our belt.

I have often said that when you get used to winning over the years that the actual win is less important than “not losing”. I hate losing. Well, I can say that this win has brought back a bit of the spark towards having fun winning again. It would be great to begin feeling that way for all wins again.

Also, I can’t say enough about the 5 guys who dragged me around the track. Terry Hutchinson, Moose McClintock, Andrew Scott, Morgan Trubovich and Jerry Kirby. Great guys and great sailors. A couple of solid qualities.

04/13/2003